AlGore'sleftshoe's Star Fox Art Thread

[AlGore'sleftshoe]

There is little to no discussion at all about vehicle design for the 80s anime-esc/70s live action scifi-esc brightly colored super vehicles the StarFox characters use to take part in battle. since I have no idea how to draw tanks or land vehicles of any kind, I just went for a new Arwing design, because aircraft are very easy to do, at least for me.

I call it the Arwing Mark IV STWU model, developed under the same dev team for previous Arwing models, now currently lead by Slippy Toad, and to be tested and used by combat by StarFox team.

Description: basically I went for the unique look the Arwing had in the first two games on SNES, and later returned in Assault. I feel it is more original, and what I'd consider classic Arwing. The fuselage is structured just like the Assault Arwing, which also looks very similar to the concept art for SNES. cock-pit designed more like the N64 beta model before SF64 was completed, which is also what they used for the multiplayer, and often appears as the teammate NPC's for some reason. as for the back I give it a more X-Wing (StarWars)/Federation fighter (BattleStar Galactica) look, to give a nod to retro 70s scifi films that draw my attention so easily. I wanted to balance a grit'n grime idea with shiny anime and this is how it turns out.

I want it to look functional, moving parts and all. I provided a small rear view image, it has two sets of laser cannons one set positioned right next to the cock pit, and the other set set in the Arwing's trademark balancer blue thingies. instead of laser cannons in the hook of the wing like in SNES, it has....lights, I dunno. yellow stripes painted on each end of the folding wings, and a blue stripe down the middle of the fuselage. I'd also like this model to have a back seat, that's what it is beyind the cock-pit in the X-Wing-like back.

as for the particle effects not shown; I'd like all the shimmering details in the thrusters and break lights to resemble retro 80s anime, heavily stylized effects that I for some reason crave. watch the TIE fighter shortfilm recently put out on youtube to get what I mean.

Sorry for the horrid lighting (What lighting?), but this piece is however subject to change, I might change things out or paint it.
 

[AlGore'sleftshoe]

Again, if this should be somewhere else, please let it be moved to its proper location.

I tried to do Fox, Krystal, Wolf, Miyu and Leon, but I could only pull off Fox and Krystal; given that they're the basic anthro character structure that I have the most experience in, I should have also been able to do Wolf but...something wasn't right about the muzzle, as for these I retouched them as best I could. Given I've done like 3 lynx OC's two female one male....Miyu shoulda been easy, again I don't know what happened.

I may try again later with the other characters but this is what I got for now. I think the artstyle shown speaks for itself. I'd like to make their outfits a bit less bland though... but that's a challenge for another day.

 

Edited September 29, 2015 by AlGore'sleftshoe
makin' room, also it sucked

[InfinitySquared]

I've got a fairly strong instinct for aesthetic and design, so I'll lend my two bits here. On the other hand, I actually don't really know what the Arwing is "supposed" to look like, seeing as I honestly haven't given it much mind. Looks good bro.

I think the basic design of the Arwing is just a derivative combination of the X-Wing's from Star Wars, the Colonial Viper from Stargate, and pretty much any supersonic fighter jet. Thin fuselage, tiny swept wings, some kind of futuristic propulsion system, and lasers. Basically, go to any schmuck on the street and ask him/her/it to draw a space fighter, and they'll inevitably draw something similar to that. Also, the crappy processors in the SNES and the N64 basically forced the design to be very geometric and rigid, since even now, curves are pretty damn tricky to render. It used to be hilariously obvious back in the ye olde days of the N64 and PS1, but even today, they can't quite do it. Why, because polygons are, by their nature, made up of straight edges. It's been a while since 6th grade geometry.

On a related note, I, like the swoopy everything is sleek and curvy '90s aesthetic better. I feel like it's starting to take on an old-school cool feel akin to Mid-Century Modern or Art Deco/Nouveau. I feel like a lot of recent styling trends are just throwbacks to '80s un-ergonomic everything-is-squares aesthetic. It's all fine and good, but I prefer originality any day. Most cellphones (especially iPhones) look pretty similar to how they did almost 10 years ago. Cars of the last 15 or so years are basically just chunky boxes taken under a belt-sander (I blame the Prius. Or the Chrysler 300). The 3DS still basically follows a format started by the GBA SP back in, what, 2003? The problem with throwbacks is that they don't take any risk, and without any risk, you don't make any progress. I'm not saying that designers should start aping the Ford Taurus and Sega Game Gear, but rather that completely 21st century design styles come up. 

Edited May 5, 2015 by InfinitySquared

[leafkin]

I've got a fairly strong instinct for aesthetic and design, so I'll lend my two bits here. On the other hand, I actually don't really know what the Arwing is "supposed" to look like, seeing as I honestly haven't given it much mind. Looks good bro.

I think the basic design of the Arwing is just a derivative combination of the X-Wing's from Star Wars, the Colonial Viper from Stargate, and pretty much any supersonic fighter jet. Thin fuselage, tiny swept wings, some kind of futuristic propulsion system, and lasers. Basically, go to any schmuck on the street and ask him/her/it to draw a space fighter, and they'll inevitably draw something similar to that. Also, the crappy processors in the SNES and the N64 basically forced the design to be very geometric and rigid, since even now, curves are pretty damn tricky to render. It used to be hilariously obvious back in the ye olde days of the N64 and PS1, but even today, they can't quite do it. Why, because polygons are, by their nature, made up of straight edges. It's been a while since 6th grade geometry.

On a related note, I, like the swoopy everything is sleek and curvy '90s aesthetic better. I feel like it's staring to take on an old-school cool feel akin to Mid-Century Modern or Art Deco/Nouveau. I feel like a lot of recent styling trends are just throwbacks to '80s un-ergonomic everything-is-squares aesthetic. It's all fine and good, but I prefer originality any day. Most cellphones (especially iPhones) look pretty similar to how they did almost 10 years ago. Cars of the last 15 or so years are basically just chunky boxes taken under a belt-sander (I blame the Prius. Or the Chrysler 300). The 3DS still basically follows a format started by the GBA SP back in, what, 2003? The problem with throwbacks is that they don't take any risk, and without any risk, you don't make any progress. I'm not saying that designers should start aping the Ford Taurus and Sega Game Gear, but rather that completely 21st century design styles come up. 

 

Colonial Vipers are from Battlestar Galactica, though :c

 

[InfinitySquared]

If I don't have at least one brain fart in my wall of text, I'll literally explode

[AlGore'sleftshoe]

Please move this if it fits an existing topic.

Once again, photo quality is crap, but I liked the way it turned out: Wolf's back in this redesign I did. Small details and some bits of his appearance are based from an OC of mine....of which the very same character was inspired in appearance from Wolf to begin with, it perplexes me but it worked very well. I went once again with the Manga/Comic style as I normally do, which fits best for StarFox in my opinion, this style being used in games StarFox Assault, StarFox 2, and somewhat in Command.

I ask to see what everyone thinks?

I'm thinking up redesigns for; Fox Mccloud, Krystal, Miyu Lynx, Fey Spaniel, Leon Powalski (maybe), Sabre (DP) and perhaps others, but those are the one's I'm more sure I can do.

[CrypticQuery]

I must commend your efforts on the portrayal of the arwing in the OP.  Although the lack of a scanner surely puts a damper on the finer details, one can certainly tell that quite a bit of work did go into keeping it close to the source material while at the same time putting a creative spin on things.  The stark lines and the glass-like appearance of the canopy in particular offer a great contrast to the rest of the ship.

Those that are particularly masterful at drawings of machinery or otherwise inorganic matter usually seem to have more of an issue with drawing living beings, and vice versa from what I've seen.  You seem to have found a decent middleground; your drawings of anthros are quite passable, but might benefit with a little more practice on general anatomy and proportions.  Wolf's right arm's elbow appears to be relatively subdued in the photo above, for example.

Keep at it, and you'll be on your way!

[AlGore'sleftshoe]

I must commend your efforts on the portrayal of the arwing in the OP.  Although the lack of a scanner surely puts a damper on the finer details, one can certainly tell that quite a bit of work did go into keeping it close to the source material while at the same time putting a creative spin on things.  The stark lines and the glass-like appearance of the canopy in particular offer a great contrast to the rest of the ship.

Those that are particularly masterful at drawings of machinery or otherwise inorganic matter usually seem to have more of an issue with drawing living beings, and vice versa from what I've seen.  You seem to have found a decent middleground; your drawings of anthros are quite passable, but might benefit with a little more practice on general anatomy and proportions.  Wolf's right arm's elbow appears to be relatively subdued in the photo above, for example.

Keep at it, and you'll be on your way!

YEAH......ughh....I know I need a scanner, but I don't exactly have that kind of money right now. I don't mean to brag, I hate egos, but the camera quality from my 5 year old cell phone kinda warps the image a little; the elbow honestly doesn't bother me NEARLY as much as Wolf's muzzle, looks like he got punched in the face. however, his elbow was definitely a challenge, the first time I've attempted an arm bent that way at that angle. 

I don't mean to spray off an ego, I hate egos, but this is not my best work, I have much better stuff, but that's original artwork I can't leak, because I want it published commercially. But I have a few things I can show that aren't related to that project, and not related to StarFox, where would I post non-StarFox-work, if I were to post it here?

[CrypticQuery]

YEAH......ughh....I know I need a scanner, but I don't exactly have that kind of money right now. I don't mean to brag, I hate egos, but the camera quality from my 5 year old cell phone kinda warps the image a little; the elbow honestly doesn't bother me NEARLY as much as Wolf's muzzle, looks like he got punched in the face. however, his elbow was definitely a challenge, the first time I've attempted an arm bent that way at that angle. 
I don't mean to spray off an ego, I hate egos, but this is not my best work, I have much better stuff, but that's original artwork I can't leak, because I want it published commercially. But I have a few things I can show that aren't related to that project, and not related to StarFox, where would I post non-StarFox-work, if I were to post it here?

If you choose to continue to pursue artwork (which you definitely should based upon these pieces), somewhere down the line when you have a little bit more financial freedom the purchase of a scanner would be a wise investment.  Considering that the camera in question is five years old, however, it's not too shabby, and I can see how it could warp/alter the image subtly from its original form based upon that information.  I do see your point on the muzzle now that I've taken a little bit of a closer look, but it's not bad all things considered.  For being a first attempt at angling an arm that way, you did get the general roundness of it right as far as I can tell.

You can post non-Star Fox works in this board.  Just keep it within a single thread.

[AlGore'sleftshoe]

yup, thank you. I might post something on here tomorrow.

[Redeemer]

Investing in a scanner is a really good idea, then one can truly appreciate the detail in your arts. Very nice work so far, keep it up. If you ever want some of your things digitally lined or coloured, in order to get a better resolution, I would be willing to work with you on that.

[AlGore'sleftshoe]

I am caught between doing a new piece of redesign fanart for Miyu Lynx; because NOBODY ever draws her, ever. *Wipes away a tear*, but I also want to do a piece that parodies Top Gun with Fox and Falco (should I ever figure out how to draw Falco in my style). I'd like to see what you guys think.

DISCLAIMER: It might be a couple weeks before I have the time to get more StarFox artwork out, I'm backed up with original artwork that I've procastinated away, and things my tweedledum friends want me to draw, so.....sorry in advance if I put it up long after you've forgotten about this post.

[AlGore'sleftshoe]

Fox/Falco Top Gun parody sketch or a Miyu redesign? I'd appreciate feedback on what you think I should do first

[Ocelotl]

Liking your redesign. I think the general idea of what an Arwing is supposed to look like is just having that rough origami like look to it, blue on its... err shoulders and be primarily white and some blue. Of course they only have room for one pilot. I thought SF Zero was going to introduce a two seater Arwing because of the wiipad aiming, like a WWII plane. More Star Wars-y in that respect.

 

Personally I'd like a Miyu sketch. Still a fan of the SF2 gals

[DZComposer]

FYI, this user won't be able to respond to you. He is banned.